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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Belgrade City Council Meeting – October 20, 2025

City Council & Boards — Monday, October 20, 2025

BodyBelgrade, Montana

SessionCity Council & Boards

DateMonday, October 20, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 28:53

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:04

I'd like to call this meeting in order and welcome you all here this evening, and I'd like to call on Councilmember Matamo to lead us in the pledge, please.

0:14

Okay, she doesn't do it.

0:15

I'll do it.

0:16

Fine.

0:17

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:25

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:33

Thank you.

0:34

Roll call.

0:35

Jason Guffy.

0:37

Here.

0:37

Michael Me?

0:38

Here.

0:38

Jim Simon.

0:39

Here.

0:40

Russell Manson?

0:41

Here.

0:42

Christina Christian?

0:43

Here.

0:44

Aaron Bell.

0:45

Here.

0:46

Renee Manimo.

0:47

Here.

0:48

Thank you.

0:53

Next on our agenda is the public forum.

0:56

The public forum is on every council agenda.

0:59

Before stating your comments, please state your name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record.

1:05

This is the time for individuals to comment on matters following within the purview of the Belgrade City Council that are not already on the agenda.

1:13

There will be an opportunity in conjunction with each agenda item for comments pertaining to that item.

1:19

Please note that the council may not engage in discussion or respond to questions during this time.

1:24

However, at the mayor's discretion, the city manager may be asked to provide clarification on existing policy.

1:31

Please limit your comments to three minutes.

1:33

So first call for public forum.

1:46

My name is Jay Whitware.

1:48

I live at 1303 Powers Boulevard, right here in Belgrade.

1:54

Really grateful to live here in the City of Belgrade.

1:58

I've had the opportunity to be involved in different groups.

2:02

I recently joined the Kawanis Club, and I have something to present to Council this evening.

2:11

And because of my interaction as the fire chief at Central Valley Fire District and my interaction with many of the city employees, I have the opportunity to uh attend meetings, and one of those meetings I learned about the vandalism that took place at the splash park, the water feature here in the park just uh to my right.

2:39

With that, uh I took that information back to the Kowanas Club, and that club is really focused on the youth of this community.

2:48

And they overwhelmingly agreed that they should donate some money from their funds for that purpose.

2:55

And so I have a check for a thousand dollars uh from the Kiwanas Club of Belgrade, and I would like to present that to the mayor.

3:04

May I approach the diet.

3:05

Yes, you may, thank you very much.

3:06

That's very kind to the Kwanis Club, and we thank the Kawanis Club for their generous donation for repairs to the splash park.

3:13

Thank you, Chief.

3:14

You're welcome.

3:15

Thanks, Jair.

3:17

Great.

3:17

Thank you very much.

3:18

That's uh very unexpected.

3:21

Uh second call for public forum.

3:23

That was first call, we'll go to second call for public forum.

3:28

Third and final call for public forum.

3:33

With no further uh interest in the public forum, we'll close the public forum.

3:37

Next item is to discuss the mail uh mayoral proclamation regarding the extra mile day.

3:45

This is a proclamation, uh, extra mile day, November 1st, 2025.

3:50

Whereas the City of Belgrade, Montana is a community which acknowledges that a special vibrancy exists within the entire community when its individual citizens collectively go the extra mile in personal effort, volunteerism, and service.

4:06

And whereas the City of Belgrade is a community which encourages its citizens to maximize their personal contribution to the community by giving themselves wholeheartedly and with total effort, commitment, and conviction to their individual ambitions, family, friends, and community.

4:24

And whereas the City of Belgrade is a community which chooses to shine a light on and celebrate individuals and organizations within its community who go the extra mile in order to make a difference and lift up fellow members of their community, and whereas the City of Belgrade acknowledges the mission of Extra Mile America to create 550 extra mile cities in America and is proud to support Extra Mile Day on November 1st, 2025.

4:55

Now, therefore, I, Russell C.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Land Use Planning█████████████████████████████████████37%

Procedural█████████████████████████25%

Personnel Matters████████████████16%

Public Engagement█████████9%

Public Works███████7%

Parks and Recreation██████6%

Summary of Proceedings

Belgrade City Council Meeting – October 20, 2025

The Belgrade City Council held its regular meeting on October 20, 2025, at 7:00 PM (meeting start referenced in transcript). The meeting included a public forum where a donation was presented, a mayoral proclamation, approval of consent items, discussion and approval of a public participation plan under the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MALUPA), and various reports.

Consent Calendar

The council unanimously approved all items on the consent agenda as submitted. Specific items were not detailed in the transcript.

Public Comments & Testimony

Jay Whitwer, Fire Chief of Central Valley Fire District and resident of 1303 Powers Boulevard, Belgrade, spoke on behalf of the Kiwanis Club of Belgrade. He presented a $1,000 check to the mayor for repairs to the splash park water feature that had been vandalized. The Kiwanis Club, focused on youth, overwhelmingly agreed to donate. The mayor accepted the donation with thanks.

Proclamation

The council discussed and read a mayoral proclamation declaring November 1, 2025, as Extra Mile Day in Belgrade. This marks the 13th year of participation, joining 512 mayors and city leaders. The proclamation encourages citizens to go the extra mile and acknowledge those who make a difference.

Discussion Items

Public Participation Plan for the City of Belgrade Land Use Plan (MALUPA): Senior Planner Brad Stein presented the drafted plan, which outlines the city's strategy for public participation as required by the Montana Land Use Planning Act (MALUPA) and Montana Code Annotated. The plan is a culmination of over two years of work, including dozens of public meetings, surveys, and data analysis. The interim planning commission (composed of three former planning board members) voted 3-0 to recommend approval. City Manager Neil Cardwell clarified that the city is withdrawing from the city-county planning board; the new MALUPA board will have jurisdiction within city limits only. The plan aims to front-load public participation, streamlining future zoning and subdivision approvals. The council discussed planning commission membership (currently three members, with capacity to add two more). The city has until approximately May 2026 to fully adopt the land use plan but aims to complete it by March 2026.

Key Outcomes

Public Participation Plan Approved: Councilmember Matamo moved to approve the public participation plan as required by MALUPA (MCA Section 76-2-5106). The motion was seconded by Councilmember Menicucci and passed unanimously (all aye).
Grain Elevator Purchase Progress: City Manager Cardwell reported positive movement on the grain elevator acquisition, with closing expected before the end of the year. Further work with BNSF remains after closing.
Asbestos Abatement at Justice Center: The council authorized the city manager to sign a contract for asbestos abatement at the Belgrade Justice Center, with work starting October 21, 2025, and completion expected by end of year.
Justice Center Contractor Selection: Six to seven responses were received for an RFPQ for the Belgrade Justice Center contractor. Staff will select up to four finalists for interviews in about 1.5 weeks. Target move-in date for the building is November 1, 2026.
Communications Manager Hired: Whitney Burms will start as Communications Manager on November 10, 2025, joining from the county.
Quaw Building: The city has paused in-house work at Quaw and agreed to allow schools to use it for one final haunted house event ("Quaw's Final Haunt").
Retirement Party: A retirement party for Jason Carp will be held on October 30, 2025, from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the same building. Trick-or-Treat for Belgrade will follow on October 31.
Pole Damage on Jackrabbit Drive: Councilmember Mees reported that a decorative pole (used for holiday decorations) was struck and destroyed by a vehicle near Jackrabbit Drive. Ron Finkbiner of Rocky Mountain Contractors (original installer) offered assistance. Further discussions with the community will follow.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call this meeting in order and welcome you all here this evening, and I'd like to call on Councilmember Matamo to lead us in the pledge, please. Okay, she doesn't do it. I'll do it. Fine. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Roll call. Jason Guffy. Here. Michael Me? Here. Jim Simon. Here. Russell Manson? Here. Christina Christian? Here. Aaron Bell. Here. Renee Manimo. Here. Thank you. Next on our agenda is the public forum. The public forum is on every council agenda. Before stating your comments, please state your name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record. This is the time for individuals to comment on matters following within the purview of the Belgrade City Council that are not already on the agenda. There will be an opportunity in conjunction with each agenda item for comments pertaining to that item. Please note that the council may not engage in discussion or respond to questions during this time. However, at the mayor's discretion, the city manager may be asked to provide clarification on existing policy. Please limit your comments to three minutes. So first call for public forum. My name is Jay Whitware. I live at 1303 Powers Boulevard, right here in Belgrade. Really grateful to live here in the City of Belgrade. I've had the opportunity to be involved in different groups. I recently joined the Kawanis Club, and I have something to present to Council this evening. And because of my interaction as the fire chief at Central Valley Fire District and my interaction with many of the city employees, I have the opportunity to uh attend meetings, and one of those meetings I learned about the vandalism that took place at the splash park, the water feature here in the park just uh to my right. With that, uh I took that information back to the Kowanas Club, and that club is really focused on the youth of this community. And they overwhelmingly agreed that they should donate some money from their funds for that purpose. And so I have a check for a thousand dollars uh from the Kiwanas Club of Belgrade, and I would like to present that to the mayor. May I approach the diet. Yes, you may, thank you very much. That's very kind to the Kwanis Club, and we thank the Kawanis Club for their generous donation for repairs to the splash park. Thank you, Chief. You're welcome. Thanks, Jair. Great. Thank you very much. That's uh very unexpected.

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